John P. Filo/CBS ©2016 CBS BroadcastingThe 39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors special airs tonight on CBS, and the show features star-studded tributes to The Eagles, James Taylor and gospel/soul great Mavis Staples, as well to Al Pacino and classical pianist Martha Argerich.
The Eagles portion of the event features a spoken-word homage from Ringo Starr, who is guitarist Joe Walsh‘s brother-in-law, as well as performances by Bob Seger, modern rockers Kings of Leon, country star Vince Gill and Colombian rock singer Juanes, along with guest musicians Steve Vai and longtime Eagles touring guitarist Steuart Smith.
Among the performers on hand to salute Taylor are Sheryl Crow, country superstar Garth Brooks and Darius Rucker, while President Bill Clinton and classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma deliver spoken tributes.
Staples, meanwhile, is saluted by Bonnie Raitt, young pop-rock star Elle King, R&B singer Andra Day and actor Don Cheadle.
Other stars who took part in the ceremony include Sean Penn, Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne and opera legend Placido Domingo. Stephen Colbert hosts the show, which airs at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.
The 2016 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony was held on December 4 in Washington, D.C. In attendance were surviving Eagles Walsh, Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit, plus Taylor, Staples, Pacino, Argerich and President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
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